Every time I have seen Tine Thing Helseth perform, I have absolutely loved it. The first time I saw her perform was with the other nine ladies of her brass ensemble ‘Tenthing’. I have also seen her perform as a soloist with HK Sinfonietta, with her jazz quintet ‘TTHQ’ and two years ago with Ian Tracey, the organist, at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral for a trumpet and organ recital. It was high time I saw Tine perform in recital with her pianist and recording partner, Kathy Stott. I have also seen Kathy perform in Hong Kong at the International Chamber Music Festival, organised by PPHK. Kathy has a career that has spanned decades and she is very well known for her partnership with Yo Yo Ma. Having looked at her rather extensive collection of recordings, I noticed that she has recorded an album with Truls Mørk, another Norwegian that I only just saw at my previous concert last week!

Tine and Kathy arrived on stage with Tine barefoot in a blue lace dress with matching nail polish and Kathy is a gold top and black trousers – both looking elegant and comfortable!

They started with ‘Intrada’ after which, Tine picked up the microphone to give introductions to pieces which gives the audience some insight into the pieces. I know that in a CD review (I think it was for ‘Storyteller’), the critic did not look favourably on her music selection. However, in such a setting as this, it feels like Tine is sharing something of herself; Tine’s selection of pieces have a special meaning for her and she obviously enjoys playing them.

I enjoyed all the pieces with Tine and Kathy performing brilliantly with beautiful tone and expression. I particularly enjoyed the Bartók Romanian dances as I had heard the mandolin version earlier this season performed by Avi Avital in HK. It is full of folk melodies and it was lovely to hear them on the trumpet.

Being Norwegian, Tine included Norwegian composers in the programme. Wallin’s Elegie was a beautiful piece tinged with sadness as it was written for Wallin’s sister’s funeral. He performed it himself at the funeral in Norway. The piece by Grieg is based on a story about a maid courted by a shepherd and the music reflects the ups and downs of the courtship but he finally gets rejected. Tine quipped that the course of true love didn’t run smooth for the characters, just like in real life.

Occasionally, Tine would ask Kathy if there was anything else to add to the music introductions but it was easy to see that Kathy knew Tine had it covered! It was lovely to see warm hugs between the two musicians at both the interval and at the end of the concert that reflects the beautiful partnership and friendship that these two talented ladies share.

Piazzolla at the end of the concert was a wonderful way to conclude, with foot tapping music, including the encore of Libertango where Tine was swaying and stamping her feet to the music. I definitely left on a musical high after this wonderful performance!

I had the pleasure of going up to the green room after the concert. Thankfully, for me, there wasn’t too much of a queue. I received the usual lovely hug from Tine and had a quick chat and she obligingly signed a CD for my friend’s nephew in Adelaide. (I had wanted to get a signed CD from Tine to give to him as he is a beginner trumpet player and a very lovely boy, so really want to encourage him!) I was then able to see Kathy, who recognised me (due to my incessant tweeting!). She knew I had been sitting on the front row so she had given me some smiles at the interval and end of the concert. So we had a chat and I didn’t know that she had been invited to this year’s HKICMS again, but hadn’t been able to make it. I was able to have my programme signed and a photo with both of the lovely ladies before I left. I am sure I’ll be seeing them perform (together or separately) at some point in the future.